Learning How to Bend

Day 18 - Write, write, write, write...

"Well, hello there, beautiful!"

I did not recognize the voice. My back straightened of its own accord, and I turned toward the higher-pitched tenor. I offered whoever it was a polite smile. "Good evening," I said.

"The name's Thomas." He had a peculiar accent, probably from someplace across the Atlantic. "And you are...?"

"Liliana."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he said. He leaned against the bar beside me, back facing the bartender. "Can I get you a drink?"

"I already have one, but thank you," I said. I had met his type before. Charismatic. Probably poised and wearing polished shoes with his custom Italian suit. Hair probably cut and gelled just so, with striking eyes which made women swoon. I was not interested. I had fallen for the sweet words before, and I was not gullible to them no longer.

"Who are you here with?"

The way he said it caused me to bristle. I did not think it was possible, but my back straightened even further as took another drink of my wine. The sweetness had disappeared, though, replaced by a bitterness that was caused by my current company. I did not want a man who flattered me and complimented me and tried to anticipate my needs before I had them. I wanted Thaddeus. And this man was not Thaddeus.

"Are you implying that I am here as someone's date?" I asked.

"Of course. Who does your man work for?"

"I am here of my own success," I said dryly. "I work for Andino Incorporated. I'm not here because a man brought me. Did you think someone brought me as arm candy? Or because someone pitied me because I'm blind."

"So you're here alone, then. That truly is a pity."

"Do you think your flattery will make me like you more? Because it won't. Your misogynistic outlook is an immediate turnoff."

"I'm not a misogynist," Thomas protested.

"Really. Your second and third question to me referenced how I was here with a man, thus implying that I was unable to achieve this success myself. Or do you doubt my ability due to my blindness? What gave it away, the far-off look in my eyes or the service dog at my feet? Did you think I'd be a good victim to your charm? I fear, Thomas, you should go elsewhere. Try someone else."

I slid down from the stool and walked away before he could say anything more. Chauvinistic, antiquated man. I hoped he got demoted and have a woman as his supervisor. He needed someone in his life to put his pride in place. Maybe I was judging him too harshly, but I trusted my gut. And that gut was giving me all sorts of warnings about Thomas, whatever his last name was.

A hand grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"Look, I'm sorry." Thomas again.

"Let go of my arm."

"I'll let go when you apologize, too."

"I'm not going to apologize for what's true. Let go of my arm." I tried to pull my arm away but could not escape his tight grip. His fingers were growing tighter; if he kept this up, I would start losing feeling in my fingertips.

"If you're the type of employee Andino Incorporated hires, I doubt its leadership's judgment."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," I said. "Let me go."

"Not until you apologize. You've wounded me." His tone had a tease in it, but I could tell it was not said entirely in jest.

"No." I could usually take care of myself, but this guy was persistent. "Go find yourself another weak looking woman to flatter. I'm sure that's the best you'll ever get anyway."

I was being rude. I knew that, but at the moment, I really did not care. I just wanted this guy to leave me alone. This was how I had spoken to Thaddeus the last spring, but there was a difference in my tone. Although I was equally annoyed in both instances, I eventually softened my tone with Thaddeus. Thomas did not deserve it.

"You think you're better than me?" Thomas asked.

"Firstly, your question should be 'you think you're better than I am.'" I paused for a second. "It is not that I think I am better than you. It's more that I know my own worth, and I am not going to let you demean me or make light of the accomplishments I myself have done."

"Sure," he said, disbelieving.

I was not about to justify my position with this prig. I suspected he would doubt anything I said anyway, so it was not worth the waste of breath. I was about to say something else, but a voice from behind me stalled my tongue and closed my mouth. A small smile caused the corners of my lips to curve upward.

"The lady has asked you to let her go, so you should remove your hand before I do it for you." 

//Who do you think it is?  Thaddeus?  Joe?  Or some other knight in shining armor who's come to Lily's rescue?  At this point...your guess is as good as mine.  We'll find out together tomorrow! ;)